Greater Blue-eared Starling
Afrikaans name: Groot-blouoorglansspreeu
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
South Africa is home to a number of species of 'glossy' starling including this one - the Greater Blue-eared Starling. It occurs from the north-eastern regions of South Africa up to Senegal and Ethiopia.
These starlings are quite gregarious and may be found in small flocks. At night they are extremely gregarious and get together in large flocks at favourite roosting sites.
The Greater Blue-eared Starling mainly eats insects but it does like figs as well. Most of the time it can be seen on the ground looking for insects. It may perch on mammals and feed off their ticks.
They make their nests in holes in trees. They don't excavate their own nests so they will re-use a woodpecker or barbet nest or find a natural cavity.
References and further reading
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 280Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 107
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 198
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 241
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 74
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 194
Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 29
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 286
Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 31
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 386
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 386
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 397
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 514
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 524
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 674
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 672
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 366
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 400
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 76
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 313
Wild Issue 39 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 74
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